Egg tester



H. R. GARDENIER EGG TESTER Filed Aug. 22. 1923 gamma-gum. 2

H.R.Gardenier mama ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 8, 1924.

F F H HENRY R. GARDENIER, OF MILWAUKEE, "WISCONSIN.

EGG TESTER.

' Application filed August 22, 1923. Serial No. 658,850.

Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and 5 Stat of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Egg Testers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends the provision of a device for testing eggs, the device being constructed whereby the eggs can be readily removed from the case in which they are to be shipped, tested and replaced within the shipping case with a minimum of time.

lVith this end in view the invention embodies an illuminated receptacle, having a plate arranged in the top thereof and provided with a plurality of openings for the reception of the eggs, a transparent panel being vertically movable within the receptacle and arranged adjacent the plate to support the eggs in close proximity to the lamp within th casing while being tested.

An important object of the invention resides in the provision of the novel construction of means, whereby the transparent panel is supported in its lowermost position,

and both adjusted and held in its uppermost position, and moved to this position to force the eggs through the openings in the plate and into the filler,.thus permitting the use of both hands in rep-lacing the filler with its eggs into the case for shipment.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views,- and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the dey with my in- Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View of the device taken at right angles to Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional View through the receptacle showing the position of the transparent panel elevating means.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of this operating means.

Figure 8 is a view showing the companion tray or perforated plate separated.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1.0 indicates an illuminated receptacle, which may be of any suitable size and cross sectional configuration, although herein shown rectangular in form. Alamp ll of any suitable character is arranged within the receptacle 10 to illuminate the interior thereof for the purpose of testing the eggs in a manner to he hereinafter described. One side of the receptacle is provided with an opening 12 through which the lamp may be inserted or removed as the occasion requires. he opening- 12 is normally closed by a cover 13 which may be constructed from any suitable material, and which is preferably flexible. Secured to the inside of the receptacle adjacent the upper edge thereof is a cleat 14 upon which; the plate or tray 15 reposes. The tray or plate 15 is provided with parallel rows of openings 16 of a size to permit the eggs to partly project therethrough as shown in Figure 4:. Arranged" for vertical adjustment within the receptacle 10, and beneath the plate or tray 15 is a transparent panel 17 upon which the eggsrest. The

transparent panel 17 rests upon a plurality of pins 18 projecting from opposed walls of the receptacl asshown. The purpose of the transparent'panel 17 is to lower the eggs in close proximity to the lamp so that the eggs may be tested subsequent to which the panel is raised to force the eggs through the openings in the plate or tray 15 into the filler of the egg case which is not shown, and which is. adapted to be arranged upon the plate or tnay 15.

At each side of the receptacle 10, 1' provide means for assisting the projections or pins 18 in supporting the transparent panel 17, this means being also operable to move the transparent panel toward and away from the plate or tray 15. The means for this purpose includes two crank shafts for each side of the receptacle, the horizontally disposed portions of which shaft are indicated at 20 and journalled in the side of the receptacle at spaced points. The vertically disposed portions 21 of these shafts are arranged within the receptacle and terminate to provide offset extremities 22 upon which are mounted the rollers 23. The adjacent edge of the transparent panel 17 rests upon these rollers in addition to being supported by the pins 18, when the parts are arranged in the manner illustrated in Figure 5. Connecting the offset extremities 22 of the respective shafts is a rod 24 so that the shafts are actuated in unison. Th rod 24 is terminally connected to the olfset extremities 22 of said shaft by being looped about said extremities as shown. The shaft is provided with a right angularly disposed portion 25 arranged exteriorly of the receptacle and constitutes a handle by means of which one or the other of the shafts may be operated. By reason of this construction, it is manifest, that by operating one of each pair of shafts at the opposed sides of the receptacle, the transparent panel 17 is elevated and moved against the'tray or plate 15. The panel is held in this position by reason of the fact that the shafts occupy a position off center, the handles 25 resting against the pins 26 projecting from the sides of the receptacle. Consequently, the pins may be used in removing the filler with its eggs from the shipping case, and arranging this filler upon the plate or tray 15. The eggs are re ceived by the openings 16 of the tray reposing upon the transparent panel, and when the shafts are turned in an opposite direction, thepanel is lowered together with the eggs in close proximity to the lamp 11 so that the eggs may be tested.

The receptacle 10 is provided with a box like cover 28 which by preference is hingedly mounted upon the receptacle as at 29. One side of the cover is provided with an opening 30 through which access may be had into the cover, this opening being normally closed by a curtain or the like indicated at 31. The top of the cover is provided with an enlarged opening 32 through which the eggs may be viewed, while extending across the top are guides 33 for a slide 34, the latter also having an opening 35 to register with the opening in the top of the cover.

In practice, the lamp 11 is arranged within the receptacle and the eggs are removed from the filler of the shipping case and arranged within the openings 16 of the plate or tray 15. While this is being done, the transparent panel 17 is disposed immediately adjacent the plate or tray, the eggs reposing upon the said panel, so as to be lowered therewith in close proximity to the I lamp to be tested as above described. The

cover is moved then to its closed position and the eggs viewed through the opening in the top thereof, and the opening in the slide 34. The latter can be gradually moved across the top of the cover, so that each row of eggs can be viewed singly. Should it be detected that one or more eggs are bad, it is only necessary to insert the hand through the opening in the side of the cover to remove the egg and replace it by another egg. Subsequent to the inspection of the eggs from one side, the cover is opened, and the transparent panel operated to move the eggs through the openings in the plate or tray 15. A. companion tray indicated at 36 and of substantially the same construction as the tray 15 is placed on top of the eggs in the manner shown in Figure 4, so that both of these trays as a unit can be removed from the receptacle and the trays reversed again, positioning the receptacle so that the eggs can be examined or tested from the opposite side. The cover is then closed and the eggs lowered by moving the transparent panel in close proximity to the lamp 11. After the eggs have been properly tested, the cover is again opened and one of the trays removed. The filler forming part of the shipping case (not shown) is arranged upon the other of said trays, so that when the panel is finally moved upwardly toward the tray, the eggs supported thereon are forced through the openings of the tray in their respective places in the tiller. The filler with its eggs is then removed from the tray and positioned within the case for shipment.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described, as the same is merely illustrativeof one embodiment of the invention, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What I claim is:

1. An egg testing device comprising an illuminated receptacle, a cover therefore having a sight opening in the top thereof, a tray arranged upon the receptacle and having a plurality of egg receiving openings, a transparent panel arranged beneath the tray and movable toward and away from the latter, means for adjusting the panel for holding the latter in adjusted position, and a slide movable across the top of the cover and having an opening, and a relatively small sight opening registering with the opening in said cover.

2. An egg testing device comprising an illuminated receptacle, said receptacle having a door controlled opening in one side, a cover for the receptacle having a sight opening in the top thereof, and an opening in one side for permitting access to the interior of the cover, a tray secured to the top of the receptacle and having a plurality of egg receiving openings, a transparent panel arranged beneath said tray and movable vertically within the receptacle for the purpose specified.

3. An egg testing device comprising an illuminated receptacle, a cover therefor having a sight opening therein, a tray arranged upon the receptacle and having a plurality of egg receiving openings, a transparent panel arranged beneath said tray and movable toward and away from thelatter, means projecting from the opposed walls of the receptacle and supporting the adjacent edges of the panel in lowermost position, and means operated from the opposed sides of the receptacle for elevating the panel and holding the latter in its uppermost position.

4. An egg testing device comprising an illuminated receptacle, a cover therefor having a sight opening, a tray carried by the receptacle and having a plurality of egg receiving openings, a transparent panel arranged beneath the tray and movable toward and away from the latter, means for supporting the panel in its lowermost position, lifting means operated from the oppo- Site sides of the receptacle, and means carried by the receptacle and cooperating from the lifting means to hold the panel in elevated position.

5. An egg testing device comprising an illuminated receptacle, a cover therefor, having a sight opening therein, a tray removably positioned within the receptacle and including companion sections, and said sections being separable and each provided with a plurality of egg receiving openings, a transparent panel arranged beneath the tray and susceptible of movement toward and away from the latter, means for supporting the said panel in its lowermost position, and means for elevating the panel and holding the same in its uppermost position.

6. An egg testing device comprising an illuminated receptacle, a cover therefor having a sight opening therein, a tray arranged upon the receptacle and having a plurality of egg receiving openings, a transparent panel arranged beneath the tray and susceptible of movement toward and away from the latter, a spaced crank shaft journalled in each side of the receptacle, a handle for each shaft whereby the latter may be rotated, a rod connecting the respective shafts whereby the latter are actuated in unison, rollers journalled upon the corresponding extremities of the shaft for supporting the panel, and elevating the latter upon rotation of the shaft in one direction, and means for holding the said panel elevated.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY R. GARDENIER. 

